The Atlanta Treebune - Spring 2015

Trees Atlanta’s educational branch will soon have a new

home of its own. We’re calling it “Trees Atlanta’s TreeHouse.” The 3,800 square-foot rental space in the Stove Works, a reclaimed factory building, will serve as an exciting new education and research center. The TreeHouse will provide an ideal venue for Trees Atlanta’s many youth and adult educational programs; some already existing, many others are brand new.

Located on the Atlanta BeltLine at 112 Krog Street, across from the popular new Krog Street Market in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, the TreeHouse will host its grand opening in August of 2015, with a previewin May.

The newly designed space will feature flexible multipurpose areas for educational classes and lectures. Innovative features will include seasonally changing exhibits, and interactive play zones for all ages. A back door will open directly onto the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail, which will serve as an outdoor classroom and laboratory!

The TreeHouse project has been funded by a capital campaign, with support from foundations, corporations, board members, universities, and individuals. An enthusiastic response to the funding initiative has been a strong indication of the community’s support for Trees Atlanta’s educational programs.

Coming Attraction: Trees Atlanta’s TreeHouse

Dedicated to protecting Atlanta’s urban forest through planting, conserving, and educating

Semi-annual Newsletter225 Chester Avenue, SEAtlanta, GA 30316

p: 404.522.4097f: 404.681.4909www.treesatlanta.org

A publication of Trees Atlanta

Co-Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer: Connie Veates

Co-Executive Director & Chief Program Officer: Greg Levine

Editor: Karla Vazquez

Designer: Brandshake Creative

The Atlanta TreebuneSpring 2015

Trees Atlanta Donors July 21, 2014-March 18, 2015

Platinum, $50,000 and aboveAtlanta BeltLine, Inc.Ms. Marcia Dew BansleyCity of AtlantaMr. and Mrs C. Edward DobbsMr. and Mrs. Charles EdmondsonKaiser PermanenteKendeda FundMr. George H. LanierDr. Rob Schreiner and Dr. Pattie Simone

Gold, $25,000 and aboveAtlanta Downtown Improvement District, Inc.City of DecaturCity of DunwoodyMr. and Mrs. Robert C. ShufeldtThe Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Inc.TOTO USA Inc.

Silver, $10,000 and aboveAlcoa FoundationAmerican ForestsGeorgia’s Own Credit UnionEquifaxIsdell Family FoundationJamestown Ponce City MarketMr. Micah J. LabordeMr. and Mrs. Scott MacKenzieNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationPorsche Cars North America, Inc.Chris and Mary ReasonerTAPPITurner Broadcasting System IncMr. Paul Zurawski and Dr. Richard Hengel

Bronze, $5,000 and aboveAlliance for Community TreesCSXMr. Chad M. Dittmer and Ms. Pamela SohnMr. and Mrs. John DrymanEarthShare of GeorgiaGeorgia Urban Forest CouncilGoogleRock-TennMr. Peter ScottSmall Dreams FoundationThe Coca-Cola CompanyThe Nature ConservancyThe Ray C. Anderson FoundationMr. and Mrs. Bruce D. WanamakerDr. Martha Wilber and Mr. Jay Wiggins

Sponsors / White Oak Memberships, $1,000 and aboveAlcoaAlternative ApparelAmerican Lung Association in GeorgiaAnisa InternationalAstra Group, Inc.Atlanta Birth CenterAtlanta Botanical GardenAtlanta RollergirlsMr. and Mrs. James S. BallounValicia BeasleyWilliam Bishop

Dr. Peter B. Bloland and Ms. Martha M. WalshBrookwood Hills Community Club Inc.Mr. M. BullardMrs. Lucinda W. BunnenCharlotte and Dan CahoonCARE USAMs. Janet M. ChapmanChick-Fil-ACity of DecaturMr. Brad CopelandAndrea CorleyMr. and Mrs. Tread DavisMs. Amity DeyFIG PartnersForest Investment Associates L.P.Ms. Alice Franklin and Mr. Dennis HawkFrazier & Deeter LLCFulton County Board of CommissionersMr. L. T. Gay Jr.Ms. Amy Gerome-AcuffMr. Alfred R. GlancyAmalia K. GonzalesGreenPrint LLCJeanne-Marie and Robert HalleyMs. Ellen Hauck and Mr. Markham H. SmithMr. and Mrs. Howell Hollis IIIJames Starr Moore Memorial FoundationMr. A. Tom JonesMrs. Catherine M. KennedyMs. Deirdre Lavieri and Mr. Brion FriedmanMs. Sharon LawsonMr. Greg G. LevineMr. Peter M. Lindsay and Ms. Kate BinzenMr. John McFarland and Ms. Elizabeth BryantMs. Stacie McKinnonMr. and Mrs. Donald MorganMountainFilm ATLMr. and Mrs. C. V. Nalley IIIMr. and Mrs. Alan S. Neely Sr.NetRoadshow Inc.PatagoniaPaul B. & Mildred Seydel Foundation Inc.Mr. Richard Perera Jr.Perkins + WillTherese PiazzaPiedmont Charitable FoundationMr. Robb L. PittsMr. and Mrs. Ronald L. ReidRenewal by AndersenRoom & BoardMr. and Mrs. Leonard J. SchultzMr. Jay Severa and Ms. Erica MitchellDr. and Mrs. Brian Stone Jr.Mr. L. Barry TeagueThe 737 LLCThe George E. Crouch FoundationMrs. Wheirmelda ThomasSarah ThomsenAnne M. ToppleTriage Consulting GroupVirginia-Highland Civic Association, Inc.Ms. Patti Walker

Mr. and Mrs. John E. WebsterWells FargoMichelle and William WellsMs. Sue Lin YeePat and Chuck Young

Beech, $500 and aboveAlchemy, LLCAmerican Society of Landscape Architects Georgia ChapterMr. George Andl and Ms. Linda PogueAtlanta Bicycle CoalitionNeely BainMs. Sandra BarnhillMs. Kristin A. BirknessMr. and Mrs. William BollingMr. and Mrs. G. Niles BoltonMr. Lukas BradleyMr. Stephen BreeserMs. Donna BroganMr. Robert S. BurnsDr. Daniel B. CaplanMr. Russell Currey and Ms. Amy

S. DurrellMr. Eric W. Davis and Ms. Maureen E. CarrollMr. and Mrs. Lance DisleyJ. Mae DonnellMr. and Mrs. Rick DowneyMs. Shannon DowneyDruid Hills Civic Association, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Eric DusenburyMr. and Mrs. Marc J. FleuryMrs. and Mr. Ana FordFrawley Associates LLCMs. Julia GainesMr. and Mrs. Gary P. GarrettGeorgia Dermatologic Surgery CentersMs. Sandra GivelberGlenn Memorial United Methodist ChurchMr. and Mrs. Edward W. GodfreyMs. Louise S. GunnMr. and Mrs. John A. HarrisMr. Andrew N. HeyMr. and Mrs. Chris HoodMr. & Mrs. R. W. Ide IIIMs. Ameeta JadavMs. Ellen H. JonesMr. James H. LandonXize LiMaiden Trail Conservation GroupMargaret and Arthur ManoharanMs. Heather R. McCann McKessonMr. Theodore J. MeinhardtMetro Atlanta Taskforce for the Homeless, Inc.Ms. Muffie Michaelson and Dr. Robin H. DretlerNevis Partners, Inc.Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. OglesbyMr. Bill Pardue and Ms. Carol MoonMr. Roger ParkMr. Brian PotterMr. and Mrs. Steve ProvostRenfroe Middle SchoolMs. Stephanie RunyanMr. Michael SacksMr. Harvey Schuck and Ms. Daniele SaraSabrina and Scott Serafin

Mr. and Mrs. Howard L. SilvermintzMs. Meme SmithMr. and Mrs. Tony R. SmithMs. Ann Starr and Mr. Kent C. NelsonMs. Heather SteinerMr. William D. TerrellConnie and Bruce VeatesMr. and Mrs. Michael T. VinciquerraTammy WeiserWeswood FoundationMr. Mark N. WilliamsMs. Judy H. YiMs. Tillie Yow and Mr. Sidney Dew

Cedar, $250 and aboveMr. and Mrs. Joel M. AdlerYum and Ross ArnoldAtlanta Community Food BankCinque AxamBenevity Community Impact FundBeryl BergquistMs. Sarah BerryGregg S. BossenMs. Elizabeth BoydStacy BredendieckMs. Kelly BrooksMs. Lucy BrownMs. Queen E. BrownCherokee Garden ClubMrs. Beverly CokerMr. Jerome M. Cooper, FAIAMr. and Mrs. Jerry CooperMs. Cindy R. CoxAnna CreightonMr. Bradley Currey Jr.Mr. Jason DeckMr. Bob DimmMartha and Mark FairMr. Sean FitzsimmonsMs. Dian FogleMr. John W. GamwellMatty L. GarrettGeorgia Arborist AssociationMr. Tony GiarrussoMr. Ben W. GilesGlenwood Park Town Center Condo AssociationMr. Jon GoldenMs. Sara GottliebKaren and Jeffrey GrantSusanna GreerRobin GreggMr. Victor S. GreggMs. Fifi GuestMs. Katharine HardinMr. and Mrs. George S. HartMs. Joanne R. HarwoodIndustrial Developments International, Inc.Mr. Michael B. Isaacs and Ms. Ann P. HazzardMs. Cynthia JenessMr. Robert A. JetmundsenMr. and Mrs. Warren Y. JobeMrs. Carolyn O. Jordan-WhiteJuice Studios, LLC.Reshma KakkarMs. Beth KeppleDr. and Mrs. Jim KileyMs. Rosalind KilpatrickMr. and Mrs. Bob Koch

Mr. Edward B. Krugman and Ms. Jill PryorMr. Robert S. LamyMr. and Mrs. Todd LatzMs. Deborah M. LenzMr. James J. Long and Ms. Marsha K. ScottMr. and Mrs. Bruce W. MacewenMr. Heath Massey and Mr. John MitchenerMr. J Timothy MastMr. and Mrs. Alan McNabbMr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. MuirLane and Mark MurrahMr. and Mrs. Kevin O’GaraMr. Donald S. Orr and Ms. Marcia K. KnightTaylor OwensMs. Marguerite PaulMr. & Mrs. John PeiferLeigh PotterMrs. and Mr. Christina M. PowersMr. Todd PrinkeyBrooke Reeve IIIMaria and Timothy ResutaMr. and Mrs. Lawrence RichardsonMr. Steve SanchezMr. Steven SchmidtMs. Jane SewardMr. Jeff SheltonMr. and Mrs. Henry SlackMr. and Mrs. Stan SmithDr. and Mrs. Peter J. SonesMr. Michael J. StephensMs. Janet StoichevMr. and Mrs. Jim StokesMs. Elizabeth StoneIan StoneMs. Amy Stout and Mr. Ted PettusMargaret Ann and Eugene SurberMs. Cheri TiernanElisa TorresMr. and Mrs. Charles TotiTrishanda and Derrick TreadwellMs. A. Jane TurnerMs. Gail Turner-CooperMr. Chris Van BenedenJason and Julie van MatreMs. Stephanie Van Parys and Mr. Robert ClevelandVenadar, LLCMr. Brennan WalterCary & Herron WeemsMrs. Joan N. WhitcombMr. and Mrs. Robert U. Wright

While all donations are important to us, our space limitations allow us to list only donations of $250 or more.

Upcoming Events

PLANNED TREEHOUSE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Youth Programs – Engaging young leaders K-12, while taking into account curriculum needs and all learning styles, such as visual, audi-tory, and hands-on.

• Thirsty Roots Reading Group: Story time for young children with a hands-on activity, including parents (Ages 2-7)

• Junior TreeKeepers: All day sum-mer camp focused on the urban forest, for elementary and middle schoolers (Ages 8-14)

• Sapling Camp: Morning summer camp for first- and second-grade tree lovers (Ages 5-7)

• Badge Program: Hands-on education, helping scouts to earn forestry and arboretum achieve-ments and badges (Ages -18)

• Citizen Science Studies: Science research projects using the Arbo-retum as an outdoor laboratory (All ages)

• Orienteering: Learn to navigate the BeltLine with a compass and GPS to complete an Arboretum Scavenger Hunt (Ages 9-18)

• Science Classes: Programs customized to engage learners during the school day on Biology, Environmental Science, Ecology, Botany and Phenology utilizing the laboratory (Grades 3-8)

See the inset, page 5, for information on planned adult programs.

3rd Annual Native Plant Sale

WABE Spring Pledge Drive

2nd Annual Root Ball

National Public Gardens Day

Family Walking Tour in the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum

Thirsty Roots Reading Club

Junior TreeKeepers Summer Camp

Workshop led by jamie Blackburn — Trees and Construction: Building for Long Term Survivability

Workshop led by Daniel Ballard — Ecological Landscaping: Trees Atlanta in Your Yard

Family Walking Tour in the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum18

Westside Trail Walking Tour in the Atlanta BeltLine Arboretum

Youth Education Sapling Camp

Please join us for the 2nd Annual

Root BallThursday, May 7, 2015, 7 - 10 pm

Sponsor and Patron Reception, 6 - 7 pm

Westside Cultural Arts Center 760 10th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318

Cocktails, Casual Buffet Dinner, Music, & Silent AuctionFestive Spring Attire

Valet or self-parking available

Tree Champion Awards Ceremony Honoring:Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., Community Champion

Kaiser Permanente, Corporate ChampionCharles Shufeldt, Individual Champion

Eleanor Edmondson, Volunteer Champion

Proceeds benefit educational programs, tree planting and forest restoration. We’ll

share exciting news about our new TreeHouse Education Center.

Thank you to our event Co-Chairs:

Paul Zurawski and Mary Helen Stirling.

For questions, please contact [email protected].

An Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) study conducted by Georgia Tech, through a contract with the City of Atlanta, showed Atlanta’s overall tree canopy to be 47.9% within the city limits, higher than that of any other city that has conducted UTC assessments.

Using high resolution, multi-spectral “leaf on” satellite imagery, the Georgia Tech research team identified and measured the existing tree canopy. The results showed that the tree canopy coverage varied across the city, with the highest concentration on residential property, and the lowest coverage downtown and along transportation corridors.

The UTC study will help city planners and Trees Atlanta plan for future tree planting, for zoning requirements, and for general land use.

Clearly, Trees Atlanta’s thirty years of planting and caring for our city’s trees has proven to be effective. While there’s still work to be done, it’s encouraging to know our work is making its mark. To view the study, see treesatlanta.org/resources/urban-tree-canopy-study. Join an upcoming educational program to learn more about our canopy.

An “A” for Atlanta’s Trees

Tree Walk led by Steve Sanchez — Oaks of the Atlanta Arboretum

Treehouse Grand Opening

TreeKeepers Certification

Aug & Sept.

Visit our online calendar at treesatlanta.org/calendar for more information on all events and to RSVP

New Trees Atlanta

Education Center is

Coming This Spring!

Trees Atlanta planted 350 trees around seven local schools:

Brown Middle School, Grady High School, Perkerson Elementary School, Thomasville Heights Elementary, Milford Elementary, Mary Lin Elementary, and Columbia Elementary. American Forests, a national non-profit environmental agency, provided 100 of those trees; the remaining 250 were provided by TOTO USA, an environmentally-concerned bathroom products company.

The overall goal of this project is to improve children’s well-being by planting trees on streets that lead to schools. It kicked off last November with a ceremonial tree planting at Perkerson Elementary

School on Atlanta’s South Side. The first 50 trees were planted along Brewer Boulevard, which leads to

the school.

Georgia State Representative Valencia Stovall, TOTO CEO Daijiro Nogata, Director of the Mayor’s Office

of Sustainability Denise Quarles, and Trees Atlanta Co-Executive Directors Connie Veates and Greg Levine planted the first tree,

with help from the children of Perkerson Elementary School. Interactive educational activities were conducted with fifth graders, teaching them the value of trees to the environment and making them Tree Advocates.

In addition to beautifying the seven schools’ neighborhoods, these trees will improve the air quality around the schools, buffer some of the street noise, and provide a demarcation between street and sidewalk as students walk to school.

New Trees Provide Children a Greener DayWhen:Saturday, April 18, 20158:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Where:Freedom Farmers’ Marketat The Carter Center453 Freedom Parkway NEAtlanta, GA 30307

The Trees Atlanta Treehouse isn’t just for kids! Adults will also enjoy plenty of learning opportunities for all experience levels, from novice tree lovers, to homeowners and community professionals.

• Family Arboretum Tour: Youth oriented walk on the Eastside Trail led by docents to engage new audiences

• Westside Arboretum Tour: Docent-led walking tour of the Westside Trail

• TreeSpeakers: Trained group of volunteers leading presentations in the community about Trees Atlanta

• Workshops: Interactive educational experience with hands-on instruction

• Certificate Programs: Advanced educational programs offered in series leading to earned certificate in specific subject area

• Exhibits: Seasonal displays interchanged to attract visitors

• Research: Collaborative projects to conduct research in the Arboretum about the urban ecosystem

In late 2013, Trees Atlanta began working with the Veterans Administration Medical Center on Clairmont Road to plan tree-planting initiatives for their campus. Over the past few months, the VA operations team have removed two acres of invasive plants and trees from South Fork Peachtree Creek, which runs adjacent to the Center. They also added a staircase and viewing platform for patients and visitors.

With the assistance of several corporate partners and hundreds of hard-working volunteers, Trees Atlanta is continuing this restoration project by removing invasive species on the opposite side of the stream bank, planting native trees and shrubs, and adding a mulch path so visitors may access the area without

disturbing the new plantings. These activities will stabilize the stream bank, control erosion, restore wildlife habitat, and provide controlled access to the area. Host a Tree Speaker to learn more about how your group can engage in corporate volunteer opportunities. Our partners on this project include:

Note the new Freedom Farmers’ Market location, and visit Saturday, April 18 to shop Trees Atlanta’s 3rd Annual Native Wildflower and Vine Sale. The new venue offers more parking and an increased selection, featuring native perennial wildflowers seen on the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail!

The mission of Trees Atlanta could not be achieved without the support of our Corporate Tree Care Sponsors. Their generosity helps supply trees, tools and materials for our plantings and programs. Thanks go to this year’s sponsors:

• Alcoa Foundation• American Forests• American Lung Association• Atlanta Hawks• Bank of America• Centro• CSX• Equifax• Forest Investment Associates• Georgia’s Own Credit Union• Georgia Urban Forest Council• The Home Depot Foundation• Kaiser Permanente• Media Star Promotions• The Nature Conservancy, Georgia• Parker Hudson Rainer & Dobbs LLP • Patagonia• Porsche North America• Rock Tenn• SparksGrove• TAPPI• TOTO USA• Triage Consulting

Email Kate Conner at [email protected] or call 404-681-4893 for info on how to participate in this team-building, tax-deductible program.

Thank You, Sponsors

• National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

• Alcoa Foundation• CSX/ACTrees• Emory University• HGOR• The Home Depot Foundation

• Georgia Urban Forest Council• The Nature Conservancy,

Georgia• South Fork Conservancy• WABE

Reynoldstown, where Trees Atlanta’s offices are located, won Curbed Atlanta’s “Neighborhood of the Year”

contest. In listing Reynoldstown’s assets, Curbed cited the neighborhood’s diversity, winding streets, walkability, artiness—and Trees Atlanta!

Trees Atlanta has helped beautify its ‘hood with many plantings. In the last year alone, two projects resulted in the planting of 88 trees by over 100 volunteers, many of whom were college students from Florida State University visiting Atlanta for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service project. Last summer, 20 neighborhood volunteers helped our TA staff refresh mulch and prune trees throughout the area. Fun fact: Reynoldstown’s Neighborhood Arboretum theme is “Fruits and Nuts.” View a map of the Reynoldstown Arboreta at:treesatlanta.org/our-programs/neighborhood-arboreta.

On first meeting, Meghan Cook, our new Business Development and Technology Coordinator, seems

modest and reserved. But Meghan has proved to be an able, determined, and successful advocate for Trees Atlanta in the business community. Her diligence and hard work have succeeded in opening doors for us.

She’s also a technology whiz, solving problems quickly and efficiently, and exploring new equipment and programs to improve production throughout the office.

She loves the energy at Trees Atlanta. Says Meghan, “Everyone here really cares about what we’re doing, and our work is positive for the city.”

A native of Michigan, Meghan moved to Arizona when she was ten. After graduating from the University of Arizona, she went to graduate school in Belgium, receiving her master’s degree from the University of Kent. Her thesis discussed finding a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability. How appropriate for her work at Trees Atlanta!

Meghan came to her current position after meeting Director of Development and Marketing Kate Conner at

the Smyrna Jonquil Festival. She asked Kate about jobs; Kate contacted her a few weeks later about an opening at Trees Atlanta.

Another surprise: what does mild-mannered, cello-playing Meghan do for fun? She’s a rock climber!

Trees Atlanta’s Own Neighborhood Voted “Neighborhood of the Year”

Meet Meghan Cook — She’s Full of Surprises!

The threat to the world’s honey bees posed by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has made us all aware of

the importance of honey bees to our environment and the world’s food security. With the fate of honey bees still uncertain, many gardeners have taken on backyard beekeeping in order to enhance their gardens, and help preserve the existence of honey bees. Trees Atlanta’s own board president Rob Schreiner is one of them.

Of the joys and benefits of amateur beekeeping, Rob says, “There are many joys to beekeeping, but one of the things we have enjoyed most is just observing the hive. We love

watching the bees come and go, wondering where they’ve gathered their pollen, and appreciating how important they are for the environment. It’s a daily reminder of the intricate and delicate ecosystem in which we live.”

Why Be a Beekeeper?• Honey: It’s a source of great gifts for friends and

family, and it’s good for you.

• Pollination: Bees enhance the beauty and yield ofgardens.

• Entertainment: Bees are fun to watch.

• Education: Hardworking bees have a lot to teach us.

• Ecology: The world’s food supply depends on bees!

How to keep bees buzzing in our environment?Rob’s daughter, Tessa Schreiner, who is as pro-bee as her father, suggests:

• Plant more flowers and encourage others to do so.Even tiny urban apartments can benefit from windowboxes! For planting inspiration, take an AtlantaBeltLine walking tour this spring, and check out thenative pollinators thriving in the prarie.

• Don’t use pesticides or herbicides in your garden. Alittle weeding is good for you, anyway.

• Encourage your local municipality to plant local, bee-friendly plants along roads and highways and in parksand gardens.

• Start your own hive! It’s not as hard as you wouldimagine.

Here’s What’s Buzzing This Spring

Instead of spraying for mosquitos, save your bees, butterflies and beneficial bugs by trying this instead! Fill a 5-gallon bucket with rain water and add straw or hay. Let it sit for a about a week, then add a Mosquito Bt floating disc to each bucket (groworganic.com). Each floating disc slowly releases a long-term, mosquito larvicide called Bacillus thuringi-ensis var. israelensis (Bt) at the water’s surface, which paralyzes a mosquito’s digestive system when ingested. Each disc lasts about 30 days, and if you keep buckets treated all summer, you should see a substantial mosquitoes reduction. The process works best if an entire neighborhood does it, so ask your neighbors to either set up their own buckets or to allow you to put a bucket near their house.

by Doug Tallamy

Stop the Biting While Saving the Bees!

The Schreiners’ Backyard Bees

(L) Rob Schreiner tends his bees. (R) Asclepias attract all types of pollinators! This native bloom will be available at our Native Plant Sale.

the school.

Thank You, Sponsors

by Doug Tallamy

the school.

Thank You, Sponsors

by Doug Tallamy

the school.

Thank You, Sponsors

by Doug Tallamy

Upcoming Events

Aug & Sept.

New Trees Atlanta

Education Center is

Coming This Spring!

Upcoming Events

Aug & Sept.

New Trees Atlanta

Education Center is

Coming This Spring!

Upcoming Events

Aug & Sept.

New Trees Atlanta

Education Center is

Coming This Spring!

The Atlanta Treebune - Spring 2015

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